Weekly Wrap-Up: A SUCCESS!

I had every intention of starting my blogging back up last week and doing a much overdue weekly wrap-up.  However, by the time Friday rolled around I was just so happy the week was over that the last thing I wanted to do was remember any part of it.  Hmmm, how would I describe it...extremely difficult.  I never thought teaching reading would be so hard.  I am not sure what exactly I expected, but tears and frustration (for both of us) was not what I had envisioned.  Needless to say, we both needed time-outs and at the end of the week we all had adopted Lauren's general whiny, grumbling mood when it came to school.  I wanted school time to be fun and exciting, so I regrouped over the weekend and realized that I had so much to be thankful for.  Instead of focusing on the struggles we were having, I needed to focus on all of the things we had accomplished.  This week started with a better attitude on my part, which made all of the difference in the world.

 

Go to the ants you sluggard, consider its ways and be wise.

Proverbs 6:6

 

 

Our bible lesson this week was from Proverbs 6:6.  What we learned: we should be hardworking like the ants.  Not having to be told what to do, but just doing it because that is the right thing to do.  How many times in our house do I hear, "But I didn't get it out."  It seems that when it is time to clean up, all of the toys have made it onto the floor all by themselves!  Lauren actually did a good job picking up things she did not get out.  She helped pick up the DVD's, games and coloring books Dallas decided to make a mess of and that is something to be praised because that little boy can sure make a mess!

 

 

 

We also learned many things about ants too.  I never knew ants didn't sleep!  We read several stories about ants and did some crafts.  Kristen also started a new math curriculum last week and she ROCKS in math.  She is already on page 45!  She is learning about money and telling time.  It is getting a little harder for her, but she is catching on.  Lauren is working on getting all her letters on the chica chica boom boom tree.  She already knows the upper case letters of A-D and the sounds.  It is going to be a long journey for us, but hopefully she will know them all by September.  I see a lot of progress from just last September, so I am hopeful our kindergarten year with her will be successful.  I guess I am learning how to find my inner patience with Kristen, because I am definitely going to need it with Lauren.  As for reading.  Well, I think I have learned a lot more than Kristen has.  The most important thing I have learned is:  Frustration does not make anyone learn any faster.  It doesn't matter if you say it louder.  If it doesn't make sense....it doesn't make sense.  I have learned that time outs are neccessary for success.  I also found out that Paul and I make a pretty good team.  When I was frustrated and ready to throw in the towel, he saved the day by having the patience I had ran out of and worked with Kristen even after a hard day of working.  Kristen has since read two books and has learned how to sound them out and put all of the sounds together.  So, I leave you with Kristen's reading debut.